The James Beard Foundation just announced the 2026 finalists in the chef and restaurant categories. The foundation’s culinary awards, which take place annually in Chicago, are known as the “Oscars of the food world.”
Out of the 11 semifinalists from Atlanta and Georgia in 2026, Chef J. Trent Harris of Mujō and the team from Aria, along with Meherwan and Molly Irani of Chai Pani Restaurant Group (Asheville/Atlanta), will head to the ceremony in June as finalists. Lucky Star, Madeira Park, Taurean Philpott (Avize), Claudia Martinez (Bar ANA), and Carlo Gan and Mia Orino (Kamayan ATL) were among the semifinalists from Atlanta this year.
2026 finalists headed to the awards
Best Chef: Southeast
J. Trent Harris, Mujō, Howell Mill Road
Outstanding Hospitality
Aria, Buckhead
Outstanding Restaurateur
Meherwan Irani and Molly Irani, Chai Pani Restaurant Group (Chai Pani and Botiwalla), Asheville, Charlotte, Atlanta, and Decatur.
2026 semifinalists
Outstanding Professional in Beverage Service
Taurean Philpott, Avize, Westside
Outstanding Professional in Cocktail Service
Miles Macquarrie, Kimball House, Decatur
Outstanding Pastry Chef or Baker
Claudia Martinez, Bar ANA, Poncey-Highland
Best Chef: Southeast
- Carlo Gan and Mia Orino, Kamayan ATL, Chamblee
- Freddy Money, Atlas, Buckhead
- Todd Schafer, Abel Brown, Augusta
Best New Bar
- Lucky Star, Star Metals
- Madeira Park, Poncey-Highland
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• 2025 Michelin Guide to the American South
• Team behind Mujo planning Japanese supper club in Buckhead
The Castellucci Hospitality Group opened Mujō in 2022 on Howell Mill Road next door to its Basque-style restaurant Cooks & Soldiers. Harris led the intimate omakase restaurant to critical acclaim, including helping it earn one Michelin star three years in a row. The Castellucci Group and Harris hope to follow up on Mujo’s breakout success with Koshu Club, a Japanese supper club opening in Buckhead this spring.
Backed by Meherwan and Molly Irani, Chai Pani-Asheville won Outstanding Restaurant at the James Beard Awards in 2022. The couple also own a location of Chai Pani in Decatur, as well as locations of Botiwalla in Charlotte, Asheville, and at Ponce City Market in Atlanta.
This becomes Aria’s second consecutive trip to the James Beard Awards, nominated again for Outstanding Hospitality. In 2025, Aria was the lone representative from Georgia at the awards. The medal ultimately went to Atomix in New York City.
But the James Beard nod in 2025 served as a parting tribute to Aria owner Gerry Klaskala and his decades-long restaurant career. The Atlanta chef had officially retired from the industry earlier that year. Klaskala handed ownership of Aria over to his longtime general manager Andrés Loaiza, with the kitchen now led by Chef Joseph Harrison.
In 2024, Talat Market chefs Parnass Savang and Rod Lassiter were the lone Georgia representatives at the James Beard Awards, nominated for Best Chef: Southeast. The award went to Paul Smith of 1010 Bridge in Charleston, West Virginia.
Terry Koval, who won Best Chef: Southeast in 2023, also ended up being the only representative from Georgia that year. The Best Chef: Southeast category encompasses chefs from Georgia, the Carolinas, Tennessee, Kentucky, and West Virginia.
The voting body for the James Beard Awards comprises around 500 judges, many of whom are past winners from both the food media and restaurant industries. Voting takes place anonymously online. Restaurant, chef, and media awards submissions open in the fall for consideration by the various James Beard Foundation nominating committees.
Check out the complete list of the 2026 James Beard Awards chef and restaurant finalists from around the country. Winners are announced during an awards ceremony at the Lyric Opera theater in Chicago on June 15.
